Posts

It's officially called S660, but Honda should have just called its new kei roadster the Beat. On sale right now in Japan, the S660 is indeed the Beat's spiritual successor—tiny, two seats, mid-engined, rear-wheel drive, and open-air.

The Pininfarina-designed Beat was offered from 1991 to 1996. Next year, you'll be able to legally import a first-year car via the 25-year rule:

The 660 in the new roadster's name stands for the the engine displacement—660cc—standard for all kei cars. The turbo three-cylinder is good for around 64 hp, again, standard for this class.

Honda says that the S660 "offers excitement and a heart-throbbing experience," and that its low center of gravity and 45-55 front/rear weight distribution are "emphasized to maximize the fun of turning." I say that Honda Japan should write every press release for every car, ever.

Solar-powered cars use sunlight as fuel. In Japan, hybrid cars combining a gasoline engine and an electric motor have become very popular. Japan has also been studying very hard about solar vehicles and now has one of the most advanced technologies in the world. Solar cars using sunlight are very friendly to the earth, while people say gasoline-fueled cars discharge CO2 and make the earth's air warmer than it should. Solar models are still at the experimental stage but before long Japan's high technology may be able to produce commercially viable solar vehicles.

Solar cars have solar panels on the roof, which change sunlight into electricity to power the vehicle's motor. So, there will be no engine noise or exhaust gas.

Tokai Challenger heading for Cape Town in the South African race. (Photo courtesy of Tokai University)

"Tokai Challenger," the most advanced solar vehicle in Japan, was put together by students of the Light Power Project, undertaken by the Tokai Un…

Ssangyong Motor, South Korea’s smallest automotive manufacturer, is putting plans in place to enter the U.S. market in the next two years—although likely under a different brand name.

The automaker also has filed trademark requests for the words “Luvent” and “Tivoli” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Ssangyong recently unveiled its Tivoli overseas, a subcompact sport-utility vehicle sized similarly to the Chevrolet Trax and Honda HR-V. A well-placed source said Luvent would be the sedan or hatchback variant from the same small-car platform as the Tivoli.

The Tivoli will launch in the South Korean market in January at the equivalent price of $15,000 with a six-speed manual transmission; a six-speed automatic transmission will add about $1,500 to the cost. The base two-wheel drive Tivoli will come with a 125-hp, 1.6-liter gasoline engine. All-wheel drive and a 1.6-liter diesel variant will be available as part of Ssangyong’s build plan.